An email arrived today that began with a website link and a simple sentence: “What planet does this guy live on???”
I clicked the link…and found that “a certain retail consultant” is recycling his old material, telling merchants to delay participation in consumer awareness campaigns (again singling out only The 3/50 Project by name).
Yeah. Right. Limit your store’s visibility during these days of stiff internet and big box competition. Not exactly the advice I’d give. (Ever.)
In keeping with the recycling theme, here’s my original response.
(Is it just me, or do you also get the impression someone has a sour grape caught between his teeth? Sorry, but it’s sure beginning to look that way.)
The end of the year.
During my days as a retailer, it marked several things: realization that the next morning meant a new slate and endless possibilities; a chance to reflect on what could have been done differently and what was done perfectly; and an opportunity to relax into the most laid back day of our retail year (being a few doors down the sidewalk from a liquor store made that easy, given the number of brown bags that lined our cash wrap counter as folks shopped, post-champagne run).
I’m not sure what it is about the combination of human instinct and calender date, but for many of us, December 31 is “reboot day.” Which is good.
Need a starting point? Here you go— [click here to continue…]
Real life occasionally provides unexpected “teaching moments.” A doozie came to my attention over the weekend, thanks to a restaurant owner in South Bend, Indiana and her terribly misguided idea about how to capture customer loyalty. [click here to continue…]
You know how you can be really excited for someone who’s trying a new concept…then feel your stomach sink when their endeavor knocks someone or something else down in the process? Sadly, a fellow retail consultant who shall remain nameless presented a marathon live stream session yesterday for anyone interested in watching. While I commend he and his wife for their stamina and good intentions, his belittling comments about the value of Buy Local programs not only knocked the wind out of me, but begged the question:
Why the need to go negative? [click here to continue…]
An email arrived today that began with a website link and a simple sentence: “What planet does this guy live on???”
